2003 · Mud Duck Productions · Bowling · Sports

AMF Bowling 2004

Xbox exclusive

Bowling fans can appreciate AMF Bowling 2004's realistic sound effects, array of gameplay options, and accurate ball, pin, and lane physics. This bowling simulation also lets you create your own bowler and customize your ball's weight, color, and texture. In multiple gameplay modes, such as practice and tournament play, you can find that perfect combination of position, speed, and ball velocity. Showcase your skills against professional bowlers or against a friend.

Released: 14 November 2003
Platforms: Xbox
Genres: Bowling Sports
Developers: Mud Duck Productions
Publishers: Crave Entertainment
Themes: Action
Country: United States
Age ratings: ESRB E

About

AMF Bowling 2004 is a video game developed by Black Market Games and published by Mud Duck Productions exclusively for the Xbox in the US on December 1, 2003. Licensed by AMF Bowling, the game is a simulation of traditional ten-pin bowling, with modes for individual and local multiplayer and tournament play. AMF Bowling received negative reviews, with critics citing its lack of gameplay features and variety and sub-par presentation of the game's character models and environment design. The game was the first in a series of licensed bowling games published by Mud Duck Productions, succeeded by AMF Bowling Pinbusters! for the Nintendo Wii and DS in 2007.

Keywords

bowling
year in the title
xbox 360 backwards compatibility

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

AMF Bowling 2004 is a simulation of ten-pin bowling over ten frames. Players control the ball using a circular overlay with three regions and a pointer arrow. The player presses the A button four times to start the bowl, determine the power of the bowl, the accuracy of the bowl, and the level of spin. Lanes feature other mechanics, including an oil pattern that determines the level of grip on a lane, influencing how much spin can be applied to a bowl.

The game supports a scoreboard and replay controls to view a completed bowl. Players are also able to create and modify the appearance of their own bowler and change the texture, logo, surface and hook of their ball.

Reception

AMF Bowling 2004 received a negative reception from critics. Review aggregator Metacritic stating the game received "generally unfavorable reviews" with an average score of 48% across six reviews. Critics were mixed on the merits of the bowling gameplay. Hilary Goldstein of IGN praised the physics as "good as they can get in a bowling game", but found the core gameplay "bare bones" and "boring".

the game never really explains how these elements come into play." However, Russ Garbutt of Xbox Nation found the game to be "fun", stating "the ball, pin and lane physics are as spot-on as the developers claim they are." Dale Nardozzi of Team Xbox stated the game was "stripped down" and "fails on pretty much every gameplay level", finding the lack of options led to a "purely score-based game" with no unlockable features or motivation to play.